Which is Correct: 12th or 12nd?
When it comes to writing ordinal numbers, many people get confused about the correct way to express them in written form. One common mistake is the use of "12nd" instead of "12th". But which one is correct?
The Rule
In English, ordinal numbers are formed by adding -st, -nd, -rd, or -th to the cardinal number. The rule is as follows:
- Numbers ending in 1 (except 11) add -st (e.g., 1st, 21st)
- Numbers ending in 2 (except 12) add -nd (e.g., 2nd, 22nd)
- Numbers ending in 3 (except 13) add -rd (e.g., 3rd, 23rd)
- All other numbers add -th (e.g., 4th, 5th, 12th)
The Correct Answer
According to the rule, the correct way to express the ordinal number 12 is 12th. The number 12 ends in 2, but it's an exception to the rule, so it adds -th instead of -nd.
Why 12nd is Incorrect
Using "12nd" is a common mistake, but it's incorrect because it doesn't follow the rule. The correct ordinal number is "12th", not "12nd".
Examples
Here are some examples of correct and incorrect uses of ordinal numbers:
- Correct: I was born on the 12th of July.
- Incorrect: I was born on the 12nd of July.
- Correct: She came 2nd in the competition.
- Correct: He came 12th in the marathon.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the correct way to express the ordinal number 12 is 12th, not 12nd. Remembering the rule and exceptions will help you to use ordinal numbers correctly in your writing.
